November 9, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech men's basketball program has announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent for the 2006-07 academic year.

Jeff Allen, a 6-6, 220 lbs. forward from Washington, D.C., Nigel Munson, a 6-0, 160 lbs., point guard from Washington, D.C., and Lewis Witcher, a 6-8, 200 lbs. forward from Rocky Mount, Va., have signed to play for the Hokies beginning in Fall 2006.

"I feel this class represents the future of Virginia Tech basketball," Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg said. "With Jamon, Zabian and Coleman being seniors next year, it was important for us to continue to recruit players that we feel can contribute and compete at the highest level. They are all good people that have tremendous work ethics. They all have great passion for the game and are committed to being successful on and off the court."

Allen was an honorable mention Washington Post All-Metro player as he helped lead DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., to the Washington, D.C., Metro championship. He averaged a double-double as a sophomore and a junior, including 11 points and 13 rebounds per game last season as a junior at DeMatha, for head coach Mike Jones. He will play his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., for head coach Steve Smith. He was rated #74 nationally by Hoop Alliance and #93 nationally by Hoop Scoop, following his junior season.

"Jeff Allen is a prototypical slashing, hard-playing, tough wing player," Greenberg said. "He's physically strong and plays as hard as any player I've seen in the last two years. He's coming from two magnificent programs in DeMatha and Oak Hill Academy.

"He's been very well coached. Jeff not only has ACC skills, but an ACC body. He's a player that can contribute at a very high level, both on the offensive and defensive ends. He's got a toughness about him. "

Munson, a teammate of Allen's at DeMatha, was a second-team All-Metro performer at DeMatha as a junior. He averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a junior. He shot 91 percent from the free throw line and 47 percent from three-point range. He led the team in scoring as a sophomore and was the team MVP as a junior. He is ranked #108 nationally by Hoop Alliance and #87 nationally by Hoop Scoop.

"Nigel Munson is a pure point guard," Greenberg said. "He understands his position, has tremendous leadership skills and he has great feel for the game. He's a winning player and a winning person. He has played in one of the most tradition-rich high school programs in the history of high school basketball and he's been their starting point guard since his freshman year.

"He has the total package. He has the ability to shoot the ball, but his mindset is to get everyone involved and make other people better. He sees the floor as well as any point guard we saw all summer."

Witcher was a second team AAA all-state selection by AP and The Roanoke Times Timesland Player of the Year as a junior. He was the Western Valley District Player of the Year. He averaged 17.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Franklin County High School for head coach Doug Conklin. He is ranked as the #21 power forward nationally by Rivals and #70 nationally overall by Youth Prep Stars, #123 overall nationally by Hoop Alliance.

"Lewis Witcher possesses every trait we are looking for in a prospect," Greenberg said. "He's talented, a terrific student and an even better person. From the first time we saw him play, we knew he had what it takes to play at the highest level. He's extremely quick off his feet, can shoot the ball 15 to 17 feet, has the ability to put the ball on the floor and he's just scratching the surface as he continues to get stronger.

"We are very excited that he's the first local player to join our program. It sends a statement that if you are from this region, your best option is to stay home and play for Virginia Tech and help us compete for an ACC championship."